(Sports Network) - The Oklahoma City Thunder don't take too kindly to losing.

The defending Western Conference champions try to avoid dropping back-to-back
contests for the first time this season on Friday night as they visit the New
Orleans Hornets.

The Thunder lost for just the third time in nine games on Wednesday to start
the campaign, falling 107-97 to the streaking Memphis Grizzlies. The setback
snapped a five-game winning streak by Oklahoma City.

The Thunder led by 10 points after the first quarter, but were outscored 36-15
in the second frame and the poor period left head coach Scott Brooks
dissatisfied.

"The second quarter when we were outscored by 21 points was tough to
overcome," Brooks said. "We have to come back and figure out ways to improve
like we've always done."

Durant and company have always responded well after a loss and look to
continue that trend tonight. The Thunder have won both of their previous games
this season following a setback and went 15-3 in games following defeat a
season ago.

"We're about team. If you're about team, that's what you do. You're not about
pointing fingers, not about playing the blame game. You're about trying to get
better and that's how we build our team habits," Brooks said after practice on
Thursday.

The Hornets had similar issues in their 100-96 loss to the Houston Rockets on
Wednesday. New Orleans led by two following the first, but saw Houston explode
for 39 points in the second and never led again despite getting to within two
points with 1:49 to play.

"We're out there playing in the second quarter like were the Globetrotters or
something," said Hornets head coach Monty Williams. "This team was trying to
kick our butt and we have to have a mindset of playing a tough, nasty style of
basketball and I just didn't see that in the second quarter."

Greivis Vasquez paced the Hornets with a career-high 24 points, while Ryan
Anderson chipped in 20 points and 12 boards off the bench. Anthony Davis,
coming off his first career double-double in a win over Charlotte last Friday,
was limited to eight points and four boards in his first road test.

"Our energy wasn't there in the second quarter. We tried to come back and
fought back but it was too late," Vasquez said after also notching nine
assists and five rebounds.

The Thunder won all three meetings with the Hornets last season and have taken
four straight and eight of the past nine in this series. They have also
claimed a victory in three of their past four at New Orleans.